Master of Arts in Art Therapy

Applicants must successfully complete the following prerequisite coursework prior to beginning the program. All coursework must have earned credit from a college or university approved by a national or regional accrediting agency. A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher is required for all coursework.

NOTE: These courses are not available to the public through the Lewis & Clark undergraduate program. Please explore options at your local university or community college.

Studio Art Coursework
Minimum of 18 semester credits (27 quarter credits)

Must include one course in each of the following categories:

• Painting
  Oil, acrylics, watercolor, mixed painting
• Drawing
  Must include figure drawing
• Sculpture
  Must include fired clay/ceramics hand building or wheel throwing

Psychology Coursework*
Minimum of 12 semester credits (18 quarter credits) including:

• Abnormal Psychology
  Psychopathology
• Developmental Psychology**
  Life Span Development; or Child Development, Adolescent Development, and Adult Development

*To meet the minimum credit requirement applicants may choose to take courses outside of psychology that focus on social justice such as gender studies, feminist theory, queer theory, critical race theory, social construction, etc.

**Applicants may demonstrate competency in this topic and earn credit by exam. Refer to CLEP CollegeBoard Exams for more information about the exam, testing fees, and how to earn college credit for the course.

In addition to the course prerequisites, applicants are required to complete a minimum of 200 hours in experiences helping people. These can be hours completed while in paid positions, volunteer positions, or an internship or practicum. Examples of human services sites are homeless shelters, schools, hospitals, correctional facilities, residential home programs, crisis intervention programs, disaster volunteer work, AmeriCorps, mentor programs with children and youth, immigration services, or Special Olympics. You will document your experiences through the online application. If you are in the Portland area, use the links below to explore volunteer opportunities. If you are not in the Portland area, these lists can provide you with examples of the type of organizations you may find in your own area.

• Volunteer Opportunities
• Hands On Greater Portland

Admission to the graduate school requires the completion of all standard admissions requirements in addition to the program-specific admission requirements outlined below.

Applicants to the Art Therapy program must submit two essays that address the topics below. You will be able to upload your essays through the online application.

Essay 1 (approximately 500 words)

• Please tell us about your commitment to social justice.

Essay 2 (approximately 750 words)

• What led to your desire to become an art therapist?
• Why are you specifically interested in Lewis & Clark’s Art Therapy program?
• What strengths do you bring to the learning community?

 

We require letters of recommendation from two individuals who know you and are qualified to evaluate your academic competence, character and/or experience in professional or leadership roles. Professors, supervisors, and employers are often the best sources. References from a personal therapist, family members, or friends are not accepted. 

All applicants must hold a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), or the equivalent in their undergraduate degree.

Applicants who have an GPA of less than a 3.0 on their undergraduate, degree-posted transcript are required to provide a statement that explains their previous academic record.

Please complete the form indicating required Studio Art and Psychology coursework. This form can be uploaded through the online application.

Art Therapy Prerequisite Courses Form (pdf)

Applicants are required to complete a minimum of 200 hours of helping experiences working with people. These must be direct service experiences and can be of paid or volunteer positions, or internship/practicum hours. You will document your experiences through the online application.

Applicants must submit a portfolio with their application that shows technical proficiency in painting, drawing, and sculptural work including ceramics. The portfolio must include at least one example of each of the three areas listed below.

• Figure drawing
• Painting (include examples of representational imagery - figure, landscape, portrait, still life)
• Ceramics (include an example of a fired hand built, or wheel thrown piece)

In addition to expressing competency in painting, drawing, and sculpture/ceramics, your portfolio should also include images that address the following:

• Self-reflection, depth, or introspection.
• Conceptual awareness of relationship to society or social justice.

The remaining images can be of your choosing. Applicants who have a background in additional art forms are encouraged to include their work in their portfolio. All images should be presented in the best possible way, (In focus, no distracting backgrounds, good lighting.)

Qualified applicants will be invited to interview with faculty. Selection will be based on initial faculty review of completed applications. 

Admitted applicants will be required to confirm their intent to enroll and pay a (non-refundable) $100 tuition deposit to secure a spot in the program. The tuition deposit will be credited toward the student’s first term of enrollment.